A subcommittee of the federal cabinet on Wednesday recommended placing the names of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and 28 others on the Exit Control List (ECL) in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The case alleges that the former premier and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, acquired billions of rupees and land valued at hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd to legalize Rs50 billion that was identified and repatriated to the country by the UK during the previous PTI government’s tenure.
Imran was initially detained in relation to this case earlier this year at the Islamabad High Court premises but was subsequently released following the Supreme Court’s ruling that the arrest was unlawful.
On Nov 14, the PTI chief, who is currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail in a cipher case, was re-arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case. He was then placed under the watchdog’s custody on physical remand.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Ministry of Interior announced that a meeting of the subcommittee of the federal cabinet took place today, attended by interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti and officials from other departments.
وفاقی کابینہ کی ذیلی کمیٹی برائے ای سی ایل کا اجلاس، وزیر داخلہ سرفراز احمد بگٹی اور وزیر مواصلات و ریلویز شاہداشرف تارڑ کی اجلاس میں شرکت، اجلاس میں وزارت داخلہ اور دیگر اداروں کے افسران کی بھی شرکت،اجلاس میں ای سی ایل سے متعلق مختلف نوعیت کے کیسز کا جائزہ لیا گیا. pic.twitter.com/uMXL8NfEbr
— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) November 22, 2023
“The committee recommended placing the names of 41 individuals forwarded by various departments and institutions on the ECL. Based on NAB’s recommendation, the names of 29 individuals, including Imran Khan, were proposed to be put on the ECL regarding the £190 million scandal,” it stated.
Additionally, suggestions were made to remove 13 cases from the list. The ministry noted that courts had requested the exclusion of seven names from the ECL and “following appeals for revision, it was advised to remove the names of three individuals from the ECL”.
The ministry further mentioned that the committee’s recommendations have been forwarded to the federal cabinet for approval.
Earlier this year, the then-PDM government had placed Imran, his spouse Bushra Bibi, and numerous party leaders and activists on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) — an alternative measure to the ECL that garnered controversy.
This decision was made following the May 9 riots that erupted nationwide after Imran’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case and various corruption allegations, as per official sources.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
